I need help with my babysitting situation!!!!!

Babysitting Rates

I need help with my babysitting situation!!!!!

Brittany is cool 09-18-2007, 8:28 PM

so i have been babysitting 3 kids for about 2 years now. when i first started babysitting, i was promised $5 for each kid an hour (or $10/hr not including the 10 year old). There are two 3 year olds (twins-one boy, one girl) and a 10 year old girl. For the first couple months I was getting what she said I would get paid, but now, it's to the point where im getting $40 for 9 hours of babysitting on top of housework. I do not know how to go about this to tell her she isn't paying me decently. I also dont know how much to charge. Sometimes I will have a group of kids..at the most 8-10. Even having that many kids, they still don't pay me a decent amount. Even doing housework on top of that many kids.

How should I say something about a better rate? Or should I even mention a better rate? Should I be paid more since I have been babysitting them for awhile and I do overnighters?

Im 20 years old and have had quite a couple years of experience babysitting anywhere between newborn to preteens. I live in Arizona.

Re: I need help with my babysitting situation!!!!!

ggfan 09-19-2007, 6:35 AM
First, You need to speak to the parents about paying you the same rate per hour each time you sit for their three kids only. Your previous rate of $10/hr sounds fair. Just ask to speak to them one day before you babysit and explain that you would like them to pay you the rate they agreed on when you first started.

Secondly, Do you have a group of kids when you sit for this family? If so, the parents should ask you ahead of time if it is okay and should pay you accordingly. For that I would say $2-2.50/hr/child would be a fair rate. That way if you are watching like 6 kids altogether you will be making $12-15/hr.

I hope this helps!

Re: I need help with my babysitting situation!!!!!

Mommy2Lots 09-25-2007, 1:34 PM
I agree with ggfan. If they told you were going to pay you $10/hr, that's what they need to do. That was also great advice about talking to them the day before.

I also think that the $12 - $15/hr she suggested for the group is fair.
I'm a mom, but I also nanny and babysit. Lately, it's been just babysitting here and there.

Anyhow, coming from a mom and nanny, the rates ggfan mentions are fair rates and you are doing alot of work. You definitely deserve to be compensated better than you are.

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Re: I need help with my babysitting situation!!!!!

iluvshoes1993 09-28-2007, 2:25 PM
Well, I know that the usual on-going rate for child-care like this is $150/week for the first child, and $140/week for the second child. So just tell her that instead of counting hours, just tell her you will expect a check for $290 at the end of the week. If she gets upset, tell her that's how much she's going to pay anywhere else. You have to be nice, but firm. That way she will know that she can't walk all over you.